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Tag: headquarters

  • TCN cautions union against planned picketing of its headquarters

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised alarm over the planned picketing of its headquarters by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

    TCN, in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its General Manager, Public  Affairs,  Mrs Ndidi Mbah , described the planned picketing of the organisation by TUC as ill-motivated.

    According to Mbah, there is no industrial disharmony in the company as speculated in some sections of the media.

    “TUC was ill-informed by the President-General of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) having lost the support of TCN staff in the misguided bid to use the TCN  branch  to advance selfish interest.’’

    She said the patriotic statement of the Managing Director of TCN, Mr Mohammed Usman that DisCos should recapitalize was being challenged by those who are beneficiaries of the liquidity challenges in the power sector.

    “Their principal objective is to change the debate on capitalization of Discos initiated by the managing director of TCN.

    “TCN management believes that TUC, unknown to them, is being used by unpatriotic elements.

    “TUC, as a law-abiding organisation, is expected to find out why the planned picketing could not secure the support of TCN staff, NUEE or SSAEAC TCN branch before accepting to lead the picketing of TCN.

    “Management  of  TCN  calls  on staff to  remain law-abiding amid the unwarranted provocation by  the  sponsors of the planned ill-motivated  picketing.’’

    She said the current management of TCN had successfully expanded the capacity of the grid from 5,000MW, when it took office in Feb 2017, to 8,100MW in Dec 2018.

    “It is on record that TCN receives less than 30 per cent of its revenue from the Discos; yet it has been able to attain this unprecedented stride in grid expansion.

    “Using in-house capacity, TCN has installed transformers and strung lines with associated transmission system devices in the last two years more than had ever been achieved in the previous 15 years before this administration.

    “Unlike before, TCN – using in-house capacity, has prepared projects and secured more than 1.6 billion dollars from multilateral donors.

    “This is meant to reinforce the network across the nation to N-1 Reliability standards.’’

    She said TCN had also achieved a level of system frequency control never experienced in the nation’s history, which has been commended by West Africa Power Pool (WAPP).

    “Current TCN management has been promoting staff more than it had ever done before in its history and we are working assiduously to enhance the company’s revenue base so we can pay better salary.’’

  • ‘NDDC relocates to permanent headquarters next year’

    ‘NDDC relocates to permanent headquarters next year’

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will relocate from its temporary head office on Aba Road to its permanent headquarters under construction, at Eastern bye-pass in Port Harcourt, next year.

    The Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere, who announced this during the 17th anniversary and annual thanksgiving service of the commission at the Dappa Biriye corporate headquarters, assured workers that the 2018 event will take place at the new office.

    He said the 12-floor head office complex was one of the legacies the present NDDC board and management would leave at the end of its tenure.

    Ekere hailed the approval of funds by the Federal Executive Council for the completion of the project, which he regretted suffered delays since it was started by the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1994.

    He said: “We must sustain the thanksgiving service because we have many things we need to be thankful to God.”

    Ekere said efforts were being made to build human capital in the region, adding: “We have signed agreements that will help us achieve this.”

    The chief executive officer noted that in the last one year, the commission had entered into partnerships, including the one with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), to provide employment for youths.

    He said NDDC signed a tripartite agreement for the establishment of the first ever enterprise innovation and growth hub in Nigeria, adding that it was partnering SMEDAN and Builders Hub Impact Investment Programme (BHIIP) for this purpose.

    According to him, “this is a new approach to address the need to train our youths. We want to turn them into entrepreneurs, who will create jobs and help in checking restiveness in Niger Delta.

    “It is important that we do things that are sustainable. Thus, we will not relent in taking measures that will create job opportunities for our youths. Coming to protest at the gates of NDDC is no longer profitable, as we are sticking with the policy of not negotiating with agitators, especially those that are sponsored. We need to discourage hooliganism and rascality.”

  • Defence Headquarters tackles TI over corruption allegations

    THE Defence Headquarters has flayed Transparency International for making sweeping allegations of corruption against the military.

    It said the allegations were meant to discredit the military as well as demoralise officers and men on the battlefields.

    Its Director of Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who linked the development to the activities of fifth columnists, said the military would treat the allegations with utmost suspicion.

    Addressing a news conference at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, Gen. Enenche said the allegations were false.

    He asserted that “a sweeping statement of corruption against military officials at this time is rather disheartening”.

    The Defence spokesman said the allegation could be part of local and international campaigns to dampen the morale of troops in the battlefields and discredit the military to deny it the support and encouragement it has been receiving globally, particularly on its war against Boko Haram.

    Enenche, however, cautioned that the Transparency International allegation should be treated separately from claims by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, that politicians were approaching his men for political reasons.

    He said the corruption allegation was a psychological warfare deployed by fifth columnists to cause setbacks for on-going military operations and campaigns, asserting that the military was on top of the situation.

    According to him, for TI to be targeting a particular period (12pm) within which to release such sweeping allegations to the public domain meant that its action was suspicion and not in the interest of Nigeria.

    “The present leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has done a lot to train, boost troops morale and procure vital equipment through due process, for the Northeast operations against Boko Haram in particular and other operations.

    “The Defence Headquarters, Army, Navy and Air Force Headquarters have established procurement branches that are guided by the rules and regulations of the Bureau for public Procurement.

    “The Ministry of Defence deals directly with states and governments on defence equipment procurement without using contractors or vendors any longer.

    “ On this note, it is suspicious that a sweeping statement of corruption against military officials at this time is rather disheartening. Moreso, that the Nigerian military was on March 22 credited by the United States (U.S.) as having done very well to fight insurgency and extremism among others, with advice to other countries to learn from Nigeria.

    “In addition, such an allegation coming at the peak of consistent successes being recorded at our areas of operational engagements, the Northeast in particular, which is obvious not only to Nigerians but the whole world. Hence, this particular allegation must be treated with utmost suspicion.

    “The Defence Headquarters is, therefore, assuring the public that there is no calculated, deliberate or institutionalised corruption in any form within its system. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains focused and committed to providing security to lives and property and totally loyal and subordinate to Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Shell: we’ve moved our headquarters to Niger Delta

    Shell: we’ve moved our headquarters to Niger Delta

    Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) has  relocated its headquarters to the Niger Delta, even before the Federal Government’s directive that oil companies should do so, the oil giant has said.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gave the directive during a tour of the oil- producing region last month.

    During the tour, Osinbajo met with elders and deliberated on how to maintain peace in the region and boost crude oil production.

    Shell’s Media Relations Manager Precious Okolobo told The Nation that his company operates from the region. He said: “I can confirm that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is already based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.”

    He said the issue of whether Shell operates from the region did not arise as the multinational was committed to oil production, good corporate governance provision and compliance with environmental and regulatory laws in the country.

    He said the company concerned itself with operation in the oil and gas sector, adding that the firm’s resolve is to achieve goals that are beneficial to it and the environment where it operates.

  • NBA’s headquarters ready in March

    NBA’s headquarters ready in March

    Barring any last-minute change, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will open its 12-storey  headquarters in Abuja in March.

    Its President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) who made this known,said the building, which was started by his predecessor, Mr. Okey  Wali (SAN), had a lot of challenges.

    He said: “The land, which was acquired by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) was revoked by the officers of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and  Wali had to retrieve the land.  Wali, a consummate Bar man, did the basement floor before the end of his tenure.”

    The building, which has just been roofed, was awarded at the cost of N2 billion and the NBA  is not indebted to the contractor. The NBA President praised Wali for the early completion of the building, and for accepting to chair the Building Committee and that committee had done a lot to see that the building was completed on schedule.

    The two underground floors of the building will serve as parking lots, the building  has three parking levels  and  is located at plot 1101 Cadestral  Zone in the Central Business District of the Federal  Capital  Territory . The last three floors will serve as offices for the NBA while the remaining floors will go for rent.

    The NBA chief said the NBA was looking for 100 lawyers who can  pay N10million each and have their names recorded in the roll of honour in the building.

    He said the meeting rooms and the conference rooms are still available for sponsorship and to be named after their sponsors.

    He said: ‘’We have offered  the family of a foremost lawyer the  Auditorium, for them to pay and have the auditorium named after their father, but if they don’t want  to do that,  we will give it to another person.

  • Police shut MASSOB headquarters

    Police shut MASSOB headquarters

    •Launch manhunt for Uwazuruike

    The police in Imo State took over yesterday Okwe community, the country home of the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and sealed off the administrative headquarters of the group.

    They also destroyed Biafran flags and dismantled the road blocks mounted by MASSOB commanders.

    Police spokesman Andrew Enwerem said the measure was taken to restore peace and prevent killings.

    He said: “The police are not inviting Uwazuruike as a suspect, but he is being invited to explain how people were killed in his home. His refusal to appear can mean

    he has complicity in the incident.”

    Enwerem said he was not above the law. He wondered why the MOSSOB leader would run to the court when the matter involved murder.

    Said he: “What we are talking about is murder. He must explain what happened in his home, which led to the death of four people. We are not saying he is behind the killing, but he must tell the police what happened. Uwazuruike is not above the law. The court cannot stop him from being interrogated.

    “The police will arrest him. He can run but he cannot hide.”

    Despite a court order restraining it from arresting Uwazuruike, the police command vowed to bring him to book over the death of MASSOB members, who were killed last week in a bloody clash at the headquarters of the group at Okwe in Onuimo Local Government.

    The police last Wednesday invited the MOSSOB leader to explain his involvement in the fracas.

  • NFF headquarters to be commissioned in April 2013

    The mega headquarters of the Nigeria Football Federation is be commissioned in April, 2013.

    This was disclosed Friday by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji who represented the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi at the unveiling of the giant jersey containing a collection of signatures of Nigerians from all walks of life after the victory of the Super Eagles at South Africa 2013.

    The memorabilia was presented to the NSC by the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri.

    Commenting, the D-G National Sports Commission said the masterpiece will be presented to President Goodluck Jonathan who will formally display the artifact at the commissioning of the new NFF headquarters complex.

    Ekeji commended Omeri for the unique concept which he said was indeed an expression of a practical initiative and first of its kind in the history of sports in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the NOA Director-General had charged Nigerians to be patient with President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in order to reap the benefits of democracy.

    According to him, “Nigeria is on a super drive to success as part of Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda; with patience Nigerians will reap the dividends of this administration.”

    He further noted that as a missing link, sports provides the enabling environment for Nigerians to really demonstrate unity in diversity which he said is the strength of Nigeria.

    Presenting the memorabilia which he termed “the sample of the feelings of Nigerians’ love for the nation” he called on Nigerians to translate this feeling to other sectors of our national life.

    The ceremony took place at the Media Centre of the Abuja National Stadium.

  • POLICE GAMES: Force headquarters win 6 gold in wushu kungfu

    POLICE GAMES: Force headquarters win 6 gold in wushu kungfu

    Wushu Kungfu concluded its first scoring events at the Nigeria Police Games going in Port Harcourt yesterday with Force Headquarters coming first with six gold medals, two silver and five bronze medals.

    Zone two came second in the Wushu Kungfu events with three gold and six silver medals while Zone 11 came third with two gold, three silver and three bronze.

    SP Michael Oladeinde, the Chairman Police Wushu Kungfu Association told SportingLife that the games which was participating for the first time in the Police games cannot go below international standards .

    “This is the first time Wushu Kungfu is taking place as a scoring game in the Nigeria Police games and from the point of organization, we came at the beginning to fashion the tournament alongside the international Wushu Federation standard. That is why in the process of the game, though some of the athletes are not yet abreast with the rules which are modified from time to time, and because we are trying to become an Olympic sport, we have to meet up with the standard of the International Olympic Committee, so we had to train those athletes and teach them so they can fight according to the rules.

    “Today you witnessed the presentation of medals and some of these athletes you here are African Champions, they are Nigerian athletes who have been tested outside the country.

    “One area we need improvement is the area of equipment. The difficult aspect is that they are not even in the Nigeria market. Some of the ones we used today are imported from abroad. We can’t do afford to do anything below international standard,” he said.

  • PHCN workers block Perm Sec’s access to headquarters

    PHCN workers block Perm Sec’s access to headquarters

    The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers’ union yesterday temporarily hindered the access of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs.  Dere Awosika into  the premises at Maitama.

    However, the intervention of the Managing Director, Hussein Labo, saved the day.

    The Nation however, learnt that Awosika, who was due for retirement yesterday, stopped at the Transition Company of Nigeria  section of the PHCN, where the PHCN boss eventually met with her.

    The uprising, according to a source, was intended to ascertain the mission of the Permanent Secretary, who was in company of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), Sam Agbogun.

    The source said: “We allowed them into the premise after the PHCN Managing Director explained to us that the Permanent Secretary decided to come over, since she is retiring today (yesterday) and there was no work at the Federal Secretariat (due to the Armed Forces remembrance day celebration) to brief him on the modalities she has put in place for the payment of PHCN staff salaries.

    “We told them to hasten up with the payments process,so there was nothing serious.”

    Attempt to confirm the incident from the Awosika was to no avail  but a source from the ministry who spoke in confidence said : “it is a lie because the Perm Sec has been around for meetings.”

    It will be recalled that the workers are yet to receive their severance package as agree with the Federal Government on December 11 last year.

     

  • Fire guts INEC’s headquarters

    Fire guts INEC’s headquarters

    Fire yesterday gutted the annex of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja.

    But for the intervention by seven fire fighting trucks, including four from the Federal Fire Service, two from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service and one from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the fire would have affected other buildings and property on the premises.

    The fire, which was said to have started around 9:30am when most workers were on duty, affected the Office of the Director of Voter Registry at the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) section.

    Speaking on the incident, the Director of Public Affairs of INEC, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, said there was no cause for alarm as the fire did not affect the data base containing information about the voter registration.

    According to him, it did not spread as it started and ended at the affected office.

    He said: “As you have seen, the fire began and ended in the Office of the Director of Voter Registry. Following the efforts of the workers who alerted the relevant agencies, the fire was put out before it could spread to other places.

    “The voter registration data base was not affected and the saver was not damaged because the fire did not get to that section.”

    Mr. Umenger assured that the fire would not affect the conduct of the forthcoming elections.

    “INEC is determined to organise credible, free and fair elections. I assure Nigerians that this incident will not debar the commission from doing this,” he added.

    The Director of ICT in INEC, Mr. Chidi Nwafor, who conducted reporters round the affected office, said the lost items were personal effects of the workers, files and computers.

    He said there was no serious damage and that the extent of damage would be ascertained in due course.

    INEC workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said most of the workers in the affected office, including the Secretary to the Director of Voter Registry, have been whisked away by security men for interrogation.

    They said most of the damaged equipment and property would have been saved if the security personnel had allowed the workers to have access to the office.

    They attributed the destruction of the property to the low quality of materials used in the building.

    Besides yesterday’s incident, in April 2011, fire gutted INEC’s office, affecting the security post. On May 24, 2011, fire affected the waiting room of the office of the chairman and on May 16 last year, there was fire at the Electoral Institute.